Samsung and LG to compete with each other in regard to new smartphones…’Galaxy Note 3 Neo,’ ‘G Pro 2,’ etc

Samsung Electronics (SEC) and LG Electronics (LGE) will release the first smartphones of 2014 next month, and compete with each other in regard to new products. As they will face off with each other in terms of new products, they are attracting public attention. It is also noteworthy how many units of the new products will be sold in the saturated domestic smartphone market. It appears that the sales trend of the first new products will become an important index that will determine the 2014 outlook for the Korean smartphone market.

According to the communication industry on January 28, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics will release new smartphones next month.

SEC will introduce the ‘Galaxy Note3 Neo’ and the ‘Galaxy Grand2,’ and LGE will unveil the ‘G Pro 2.’ These products are their strategic products targeting the beginning of the year devoid of new smartphones.

The Galaxy Note 3 Neo is a variation of Galaxy Note 3. Unlike the Galaxy S series, it is the first variation of the Galaxy Note series. The size of the display is 5.5 inches, a little smaller than the Galaxy Note 3, and its memory will be 2GB RAM. It is known that it uses the hexa core, a processor that loads the dual core and the quad core at the same time. For simple jobs, the 1.7㎓ dual core will be used, while for high-performance jobs, the 1.3㎓ quad core will be used.

“The Galaxy Note 3 Neo is not a low-end product as it has been known, but a variant product with a slightly different group of consumers than the Galaxy Note 3,” said an informant from the communication industry. “The factory price is not determined yet, but it will be a little lower than that of the Galaxy Note 3, and similar to the price of a premium product.”

SEC will also release the Galaxy Grand 2, a follow-up on the ‘Galaxy Grand,’ which was very popular in the low-end market last year. It is the first introduced to overseas markets last November, and it will be sold by the three mobile carriers in the middle of next month. As it targets the low-end market, it appears that the factory price will be lower than premium products.

LGE will respond with the G Pro 2. LGE is forecast to release the G Pro 2 in the first half of this year, and ‘G3’ in the second half, and penetrate the smartphone market. The G Pro 2, which will be released in mid- February, was introduced early last year in the Korean market, and follows up on the ‘Optimum G Pro’ which sold more than 1 million units. As it comes with a 6-inch full HD display, it is targeting the large-screen market as well, and it is the first LGE’s smartphone with 3GB RAM.

“The Galaxy Grand 2 and the G Pro 2 are scheduled to be released in the middle of next month,” said a communication industry official. “As the Galaxy Note 3 Neo and the Galaxy Grand 2 are negotiating the release time, it is expected to be released as early as next month, or as late as March.”
Kwon Geon-ho | wingh1@etnews.com